By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
CAPE TOWN/South Africa: In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the Kaizer Chiefs Under 13s accomplished the rare feat of going through an entire 34-game season in the South African Football Association (SAFA) Gauteng Development League (GDL) without suffering a single loss. Their triumph was sealed after they secured a convincing 4-1 victory over TS Galaxy’s Under 13s at the Village last Sunday.
Not to be outdone, the Chiefs Under 15s mirrored their younger counterparts’ success, also defeating TS Galaxy with a 4-1 scoreline, thereby clinching the championship title for their age group.
However, Saturday, October 28, didn’t yield favorable results for the Chiefs’ Under 17s and Under 19s, as they both faced disappointing defeats, with the Under 17s going down 4-1 at the ETS Sports Ground, and the Under 19s being bested 2-1 in their respective matches.
In a thrilling showdown in Chatsworth, south of Durban, the Chiefs Reserves emerged victorious in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC), narrowly edging out Golden Arrows with a 3-2 win. The match was a seesaw battle, with both teams taking turns in the lead before the Glamour Boys delivered the decisive blow.
This victory solidified their third-place standing with 17 points after eight rounds, placing them just three points behind the leading team. The next challenge for the Chiefs Reserves will be a home fixture against Richards Bay on Saturday, November 4, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00.
Kaizer Chiefs, the footballing giants of Southern Africa, boast an immense fan base with millions of supporters throughout the SADC region. At the core of their success is the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy, a program that offers free training to players across various age groups, including the under-13s, under-15s, under-17s, under-19s, and the Reserve Team.
As the club’s commitment to excellence remains unwavering, they demand exceptionally high standards from their players and stress that development begins each day players set foot within the Kaizer Chiefs Village. The club goes the extra mile by housing some of its players at the state-of-the-art KC Village in Naturena, where they receive guidance from house fathers and mothers.
The Academy Team doesn’t conduct open trials, as most of their players are scouted from various regions across the country and then invited for further assessments. According to the club, the emphasis on nurturing talent and maintaining a high level of training standards is at the heart of their continued success in South African football.
